UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly claims an even-more-insidery inside source than Variety who says Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s role is NOT Alberto Falcone. Aw, remember when the trades were always bashing blogs for wanting to be “first rather than right?” Those were the days.

It appears the rumors are true, with Variety now reporting that Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be joining his Inception co-stars Tom Hardy and Michael Caine in Chris Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, currently scheduled for July 20th, 2012. He also joins Anne Hathaway, who was recently confirmed as Catwoman. Boy, it’s amazing what changing “cat lady” to “cat woman” will do for a character’s perceived attractiveness.

Insiders tell Variety that Gordon-Levitt will play Alberto Falcone, the son of Mafia cheiftain Carmine Falcone, the character Tom Wilkinson played in “Batman Begins.”

Alberto Falcone, who is also known as the Holiday Killer, would bring Nolans’ superhero trilogy full circle. The character fits with the helmer’s stated desire for continuity and preference to pit Bruce Wayne against “realistic” illains, as opposed to cartoonish nemeses such as Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy.

While Nolan has elected to keep fans in the dark — for now — it’s known that Juno Temple is being eyed for a supporting role as a street-smart Gotham girl. [Variety]